Bill Cosby Arraigned on Sexual Assault Charge from 2004; Judge Sets Bail at $1 Million
Attorneys for Bill Cosby issued a statement
following Wednesday's arraignment. Per NBC, it reads: "The charge by the
Montgomery County District Attorney's office came as no surprise, filed 12
years after the alleged incident and coming on the heels of a hotly contested
election for this county's DA during which this case was made the focal
point. Make no mistake, we intend to
mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr.
Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law."
Bill Cosby was arraigned Wednesday afternoon
in Pennsylvania's Montgomery County District Court on sexual assault charges
stemming from 2004.
Judge Elizabeth McHugh read the charges
against the 78-year-old and, per CNBC, set his bail at $1 million. Per CNN,
Cosby handed over his passport and did not enter a plea. He will remain free on
bail pending trial. A preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m. If
convicted on the felony second degree charge of aggravated indecent assault,
Cosby faces five to 10 years behind bars and a $25,000 fine.
In the hours before Cosby's arraignment, an
arrest warrant for the comedian was issued over the 2004 case alleging he
drugged and sexually violated former Temple University employee Andrea Constand
at his Philadelphia-area home. Although a judge originally dismissed the case
in 2005, the charges filed Wednesday were the result of new evidence that came
forth this summer.
"A prosecutor's job is to follow the
evidence wherever it leads and whenever it comes to light," said First
Assistant D.A. Kevin R. Steele in a statement Wednesday. "Upon examination
of all of the evidence, today we are able to seek justice on behalf of Mr.
Cosby's victim.."
Per NBC News, Constand was not specifically
named during Wednesday's conference, but Steele said the woman, "has
indicated that she is willing to cooperate with us going forward."
Source: eonline
